2024

Cheshire County Cricket League Div 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 137 all out Lost to NE Cheshire CC 1st XI 228-8 Mark Weighill bowls Ashton fell to defeat on the road at North East Cheshire, as their batting failed to chase down a challenging target. Choosing to bowl first, Ashton found home openers Daniel Williams (50) and James Banner (59) in fine form. North East batted well throughout as they punished anything loose delivered by the Ashton bowlers. Whilst wickets fell at regular intervals, the runs kept coming, with Jake Reynolds hitting a half century at better than a run a ball.   Spinner Mark Weighill emerged with the best figures (5 for 61) and Ashton never allowed the innings to truly get away from them. But they knew that the run chase would not be easy, particularly as they were missing several top order batters. And so it proved, as early wickets put Ashton on the back foot. Whilst skipper James Marshall and Sam Kingsman-Ali both showed sparks of a fightback, a mixture of decent bowling and some poor shot selection saw Ashton slump to 137 all out. Toby Carson took the bowling honours with 5-24. This was a second consecutive loss for Ashton who will need to get back on track in the coming weeks to ensure that their season meets its early promise. The Ashton 2nd XI lost their game against Oulton Park at The Beets. Ashton 148 all out (Mark Duncan 48 not out, Damian Barton 6-39) Oulton Park 151-4 (Ben Kettle 60) The 3rd XI lost a low scoring game against Bowdon. Bowdon 97 all out ( Adam Heap 4-34) Ashton 66 all out (Anay Deshpande 4-13) Sam Kingsman-Ali bats

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 109 all out Lost to Cheadle Hulme CC 1st XI 315 -6 Charlie Eaton bowls Ashton were well beaten at Cheadle Hulme as the home side produced a dominant batting display to enhance their promotion prospects. Choosing to bat first, Cheadle Hulme shook off the early loss of opener Rhys Collister as Veteran Adam Wilde and overseas player Ashton Muir came together to record a 200 run partnership for the second wicket. Muir rode some early luck whilst attacking the bowling at every opportunity. The Ashton bowling did not wilt under the onslaught but there was little anyone could have done to stop Muir in this mood. Charlie Eaton eventually removed Wilde for a fine 67, but Muir pressed on to his well-deserved century. Muir eventually fell, caught in the deep hitting out, for 143 made off just 110 balls. With Sam Bright (55) and Aayush Singh Slathia energetically adding runs in the final overs, Ashton were left with a mammoth total to try and chase. Ashton’s effort stalled before it began, with Hugh Gibbons and Mike Roberts falling for ducks to Scott Howarth in the first over. Whilst Fraser Hay, Dave Patterson and Tom Scott battled hard, the result was never in doubt. With Scott having to retire injured, the innings spluttered to an end with just over 100 on the board. This was a harsh lesson for Ashton but they deserve credit for sticking to the task in the field and they will write this off as a day when they came up against a fine batsman whose day it was. Ashton’s 2nd XI also fell to defeat, against Urmston at The Beets. Urmston 219-8 (Jamie Cotton 56, Yousuf Bhamjee 3-54) Ashton 118 all out (Richard Partington 7-41) Ashton’s 3rd XI went down to defeat against Ashley. Ashley 177-5 (Mohammad Kamran 67) Ashton 48 all out (Rory Wilkinson 5-24) Fraser Hay bats

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 231-5 Beat Alvanley CC 1st XI 229-7 Kris Green bowls Ashton recorded an excellent victory as they fought off the challenge of Alvanley in a fine game of cricket at The Beets. On a near perfect summer’s day, Ashton invited the visitors to bat first on what promised to be a fine batting track which would get even better during the day. Opening bowers Fraser Hay and Kris Green bowled well with little luck as Mike Rowlands and Stephen Charles put on 50 for the first wicket. The introduction of Charlie Eaton saw the breakthrough, as he dislodged Rowlands, taking a second wicket in his next over.  Ashton wobbled in the field with a number of dropped chances, but Jack Cumersdale clung onto a caught and bowled to remove veteran Andy Bennion. Spinner Zaheer Khan made the next breakthrough, removing Charles for a fine 53, but the Alvanley lower order kept pressing to move their score past 200. The final total of 229 was perhaps par for the day. Khan finished with well deserved figures of 3-48. In reply Ashton started steadily with Hugh Gibbons and Macca Hooton combating Alvanley’s  fine opening attack of  Chris Charles and Ieuan Morris. When Hooton fell, Gibbons was joined by Mike Roberts and together they built a 75 run partnership which moved the game Ashton’s way.  When they fell (Gibbons for a well made 58) Hay and Tom Scott took up the challenge and the victory target came into sight. Scott fell on the home straight but Hay hit the winning runs to finish unbeaten on 57. This was a superb game of cricket between two fine teams, played in a good spirit. Ashton will be very satisfied to have got the win, which moves them up to 5th in the table ahead of next week’s trip to Cheadle Hulme. Ashton’s 2nd XI went down to defeat at Maritime. Maritime 230 all out, Ashton 97 all out. The 3rd XI also lost at Bramhall. Ashton 165 all out (Steve Mckinney 66) Bramhall 168-2 (Josh Patel 101 not out­) Mike Roberts bats